Idaho, Craters Of The Moon National Monument And More...

                                                           
Knowing where to go from Glacier East in Montana was easy.  I would be heading to my friends home in Idaho, with a few stops along the way, one being Craters of the Moon National Monument. My friend Linda, who also likes to be referred to as my "travel agent" owns a beautiful 10 acre homestead in the foothills of Boise,  more accurately known as Eagle Idaho.  But that entry will follow.
For now enjoy some photos of the stops along the way and my most interesting Wal-Mart camping experience, which  basically goes like this; Wal-Mart allows overnight camping in their parking lots, something I did not know until my "travel agent" informed me.  Having driven the entire day through beautiful Montana and arriving in Idaho Falls in the early evening I found myself left with motels or expensive campgrounds for my choices for the evening setup.  Free and conveniently located Wal-Mart won out.  The next morning while I packed up my rolling home, my Jeep was serviced and we both left as "happy campers". TC...

Who could resist the Worlds First?  Located in the middle of high desert in Idaho, EBR-1 proved to be an interesting stop.

Montana is laced with small towns like this one, though not all have their own sign.  I couldn't resist a photo. 

                Lava rock and granulated lava soil.                                 

                       Craters Loop  provides access to the wonders of the park.         

                         Life seems to flourish in the strangest places.                                                                                                                                                    

     

Clinging to life in the lava ash soil.

Paved hiking trails were a welcomed surprise.

This Cutoff was the topic of conversation at the evening program in the amphitheater at Craters of the Moon.  Most National Parks, Monuments and Preserves that offer camping also provide evening talks by park rangers that are always interesting and informative.    

 

The cutoff.

 

                                                              
                                                             

Glacier National Park, EAST

Glacier National Park is similar to Olympic National Park in the sense that each has distinct areas.  The West side you have already seen in my previous entry, now enjoy the East side which by comparison is like another park in itself. Actually, taking Rt. 2 out of West Glacier is almost like driving through another state, with a totally different topography. It is, as my bicycling friend Dave told me while camping on the West side, "like what Montana really looks like".  His analogy was perfect.  "Big Sky", rolling hills, vast open spaces, lots of horses and beautiful vistas with few stores and homes to take away from the natural beauty of the land.
The campground was full, so I was directed to Chewing Backbones Indian Reservation Campground.  Yes, that's really the name.  Read the photo to understand.  Several days of park and area exploration along with some quality hikes proved to be quite enjoyable as well as the Montana towns of St. Mary, Babb, Duck Lake. I was rather close to Canada and a senic ride on Rt. 89 brought me right up to Customs door. 
It is the Centennial Anniversary of the park, but talking to some of the Blackfeet Indians, actually puts a different slant on the "celebration", that not all are celebrating.  At the visitors center there is actually a tee pee with 9 short films  showing that same opinion about the parks true ownership and the feelings of the the different tribes in the area.  I was surprised to see the National Park System offer such an open attitude about Glacier National Park and the controversy that still seems to exist today regarding it's true ownership and how the Park was obtained.  Enjoy some photos.  TC...

                      The Indians call that Lizard Glacier in the center.  

              I was hoping to see these guys, but was not that lucky.  

Natures own art.

 If you look really closely you will see the bear on the mountain side.     

                                               Talking it over.             

                   Decision made.  Look away from this stranger.